PDO ramps up social investment campaign

Business Reporter –
MUSCAT –
Dec 21: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) yesterday pledged funding of around RO 500,000 to a variety of social investment projects to benefit the community.
The Company signed 17 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with a range of municipal authorities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for infrastructure, equipment and financial support.
The agreements will pave the way for two public majlises in Barbazom and Dhahboon in Wilayat of Thumrait, a water well and accessories in Wadi Arah in Wilayat of Shaleem, a slaughterhouse in Hamra Adduru’a and two underground water channels (Falaj) in Ibri. Petroleum Development Oman is also funding additional infrastructure at Shaleem Hospital.
In addition, the Company is funding a package of measures to help NGOs, including special wheelchairs for the Oman Association for the Disabled, and equipment for the Omani Society for the Hearing Impaired.
Other NGOs to benefit are the Al Hayat Association, Early Intervention Association, Oman Alzheimer’s Society, Hereditary Blood Disorder Association, Oman Diabetes Association, Children First Association, Oman Down Syndrome Association, Environment Society of Oman and the Omani Women’s Association in Al Hamra. PDO also pledged to give further support to women from low-income backgrounds through its Banat Oman social enterprise which funds vocational training.
The agreements confirming these commitments were signed at an official ceremony at PDO’s Knowledge World Centre under the auspices of Shaikh Ali bin Nasser al Mahrouqi, Secretary-General of Majlis Ash’shura.
The eminent signatories included Almunther bin Ahmed al Marhoon, Wali of Thumrait, Mohamed Berham Ba Omar, Wali of Shaleem and Shaikh Hamed Sultan al Busaidi, Assistant Wali of Ibri in Hamra Adduru’a.
PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci said: “PDO is committed to supporting Omani communities with targeted social investment to address specific needs. These latest MoUs will bring direct benefit to a number of people and good causes across the Sultanate and show that, even in a low oil price environment, we are staying the course on our corporate social responsibility programme.”
The company also pledged a number of smaller investments through its Grants and Donations Committee, including to Riyada (the Public Authority for SME Development) and the Oman Astronomical Society.